Clayton Kershaw (16-3) has a 1.73 ERA for the National League West-leading Dodgers.

Clayton Kershaw (16-3) has a 1.73 ERA for the National League West-leading Dodgers. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

Vin Scully wants an ode to the Dodgers? Fan of the House columnist Chris Erskine comes through, in verse

Forget the Ice Bucket Challenge. This kid Scully, so fond of reciting the classic ode "Tinker to Evers to Chance," recently issued a poetry challenge: Can someone pen some similar tribute to this year's Dodgers, awash as they are in larger-than-life characters?

There were 26 pitchers in baseball's 300-save club before Wednesday, an elite group headed by a right-hander who had the game's most devastating cut fastball (Mariano Rivera), another who had one of baseball's best changeups (Trevor Hoffman), and a left-hander who threw 98 mph (Billy Wagner).

A 5-2 win over Minnesota on Wednesday night proved costly for the Angels, who lost David Freese to a fractured right index finger, an injury that will sideline the third baseman for several weeks, and center fielder Daniel Robertson to right shoulder stiffness, an injury that is not serious.